At his primary election victory party, Alabama House District 73 Republican nominee Matt Fridy of Montevallo celebrates with his family at Buck's Pizza in Alabaster on Tuesday, June 3, 2014. Pictured are Fridy's parents, Tom and Lynn Fridy, wife Kim with the candidate and their children Jack, Beth, Cate and Emmy. (Courtesy / Luke Camara)

SHELBY COUNTY, Alabama -- Alabama House District 73 Republican candidate Matt Fridy of Montevallo has won in the primary election for the state legislative seat.

As of about 9:50 p.m. at the Shelby County Probate Court in Columbiana, there were 48 of 49 precincts reporting with Fridy at 3,830 votes, or roughly 69 percent, compared to challenge Jody Trautwein of Helena with 1,707 votes, or about 31 percent.

At his election night party at Buck's Pizza in Alabaster where about 100 people attended, Fridy said, "I am elated. I'm very excited. Obviously we've been fighting very hard for the last year to win and I could not be prouder of the army of volunteers that came out to help us.

"There's no way we could win tonight without the help of all those folks and it's truly humbling," Fridy said.

What's his plan for Wednesday? "I'm spending tomorrow picking up signs and we're going to the beach on Thursday and we'll be back on Monday," Fridy said.

Trautwein said in a phone interview at about 9:20 p.m. that the results seem consistent at about 70 percent to 30 percent. "The way it's looking right now, unless there's a dramatic turnaround, it appears to be case," Trautwein said about the victory declared by Fridy's campaign.

"Obviously we are extremely disappointed. We ran hard. We fought hard. The people were amazing in District 73. They wanted the truth. They wanted somebody who would fight for their faith and their family and their finances and their future," Trautwein said.

Alabama House District 73 covers much of west Shelby County and includes portions of Montevallo, Alabaster, Helena and Pelham. No other challengers have emerged for the general election ballot for the seat.